Special Guest Speaker session - Dr David Kenyon - Bletchley Park, World Wars & Espionage - 17th May 2026

As part of our special Socratic Club programme this Summer Term, we were delighted to welcome a very special guest speaker Dr David Kenyon.

Dr Kenyon is the Research Historian at Bletchley Park, the world-famous Second World War code-breaking site, and author of Bletchley Park and D-Day.

David is one of the leading historians working on the remarkable legacy of Bletchley Park and the extraordinary individuals whose intelligence work helped shape the course of modern history. His research brings to life not only the stories of innovation, resilience and ingenuity during the Second World War, but also the human dimension behind one of the greatest intelligence operations ever undertaken.

Members heard a presentation of key points and findings from Bletchley and the world of Espionage and then had the opportunity to ask the distinguished historian an array of fascinating questions. We could easily have run on for the entire day and beyond! Following a snap poll, 70% of members would like to work in codebreaking when they are older. It was wonderful to see such impressive points and interjections from the group and the mature way in which they responded to often new insights into this fascinating and extraordinary period of British history.

We also had time for a debate inspired by the subject of the talk on the theme of Safety and Freedom - juxtaposing what is often seen as the first duty of government with Benjamin Franklin's dictum on essential liberty. 

It is clear that members would like to make a tour to Bletchley and we will explore this for a future museum visit.

Very well done all!